Rich NATA

TDYER63, this is not aimed at you directly; I'm just using your post... There is absolutely nothing wrong with the points system and tickets have been available to zero/low pointers for many matches... (I haven't read all of this thread, but can someone post a list of recent matches, which have gone down to nil pointers?) If any nil/low pointer think ditching the points system is wise, your absolutely f*cking mad. Why? Because as it stands, you at least have an idea of your chances of a ticket BEFORE YOU BOOK A FLIGHT. If you are a low pointer and such 'n' such a match is announced, you can then consider how popular this match will or won't be and where they're likely to play it and you can make a fairly well informed decision on whether you'll get an SSC ticket or not and therefore decide whether to book that flight or not. I cannot attend Hungary, Peru or Mexico, so I'll be dropping those points. I cannot get the time off work - tough. And I'm having to soon move out of my rented flat (which was a good deal) and my rent somewhere else will increase significantly - tough. Loads of games have gone to nil pointers. Try applying for tickets for a November friendly against Luxembourg instead of a qualifier against Germany in Dortmund. We all started on zero and in most cases, we sacrificed other things in order to do these trips. We got on the ladder; you can too.

Agreed, but all transport away from all stadia is terrible.

In recent times they have played in either Haifa or Jerusalem... They don't seem to play in Tel Aviv.

I was thinking about what we would like Hampden to be... I would like... 1) two tiers all the way round with the upper tier over-hanging the lower as much as possible. 2) steep! 3) tight and as close to the pitch regulations allow. The Rhein Energie Stadium in Koln is the nearest I have seen to that description.

Very good :-) :-) :-)

Distance from the pitch... We are not alone... Paris, Rome, Berlin, Vienna, Brussels, Minsk, Kiev, Moscow and 2 in Belgrade and many more, I'm sure. New even grounds are not always what they should be... Wembley and the Emirates are considered great football grounds, but both have shallow Lowe tiers; far worse than Hampden. I agree the 52k capacity will in this day and age probably mean we have already seen the last ever Champions League final to be held at Hampden. That said, the stadium is for us and not for a UEFA final once in a blue moon. We could make it 100k, which would see a lot of UEFA finals......... Not so good for Scotland v. Albania on a Monday night. Getting away from stadia old or new is always sh*t......... the only time it works is if you can walk away Cardiff, Skopje and Minsk are good examples.

I'm sorry; what is it some people think is actually wrong with Hampden? Does it merely boil down to the fact the East and West stands are a long way from the pitch? Is that it??? P.S. don't bring transport into this because getting tens of thousands of people away from any stadium/arena is always a f*cking nightmare. Count our blessing's we don't play somewhere like that stadium down in Faro.

He must be pushing 90 now, but just a few months ago I saw the Bournemouth Pavilion advertising his FOUR HOUR long show... Four bloody hours???

Absolutely delighted with Albania; that was the one I wanted; no doubt it was for many of us. I'd probably have chosen Bulgaria ahead of Israel, but there wouldn't have been much in it; Israel will be fascinating. Very happy with the group from a travel perspective, but I imagine they'll be tough away matches.

Even better now; right on lunchtime and can watch it all unfold. I love UEFA/FIFA draw day... I look forward to it in the way a child looks forward to Christmas.

You're right. I thought the draw was at 3pm for some reason.

I thought the draw was this afternoon (?) I emailed UEFA yesterday and they expect to announce fixtures at 1630 CET.

Who on Earth passes up the opportunity to play at the Azteca???

If it is Budapest, it will be the Groupama Arena i.e. Ferencvaros FC......... there is no other option in Budapest.

Sorry to break the news, but you've missed it, pal... I did too I visited Budapest in the autumn of 2015 and again in the spring of 2016 and never pulled my finger out and visited the National Stadium on the first visit... Did so on the 2nd visit, but the bulldozer's had just moved in. Assuming we're playing in Budapest (and not Debrecen) I expect we'll play at the Ferencvaros stadium, which is fairly new. A great city for groundhopping... Over those two trips I saw 4 club matches at Ferencvaros, Honved, Ujpest and Vasas (MTK - where Escape to Victory had been filmed - were rebuilding that old stadium, which must be finished by now). They're all great grounds (especially Honved and Ujpest) but in Budapest, only Ferencvaros is up to hosting an international match these days. The National Stadium is being rebuilt; not just demolished.

I held a mock draw... I wanted Albania, Bulgaria and Estonia. We got Norway, Finland and Cyprus :-( I'd be happy enough with Finland, mind... In my 22 years of following Scotland away, we have never played any of the teams in pot 3.

Re. Hampden; have you ever been in the South Stand Upper? If you haven't, give it a try; it's an absolutely fantastic view.

There are modern stadia, which are even worse for that. The Emirates (when we played our Brazil match) and Wembley are both dreadfully shallow on the lower tiers.

That cannot true. I'd be stunned if it was. Surely the only problem with Hampden is the distance behind the goals, but many stadiums have that; Berlin, Rome, two in Belgrade, Vienna, Moscow, etc... Back to Hampden and I'd imagine facilities behind the scenes are top notch, which is what FIFA and UEFA really care about (not the facilities for us pesky fans).

No doubt the AC Milan and Inter website's will tell you where to buy tickets (whether it be the stadium, club shop, etc...) but make sure you take your passport when you go to purchase (ID was essential when I bought a ticket in Italy).

anyone up for the Zagorje match? thats the one half an hour east of Ljubljana. always think it's more fun showing up in a provicial town a la Orihuela / Vlasim.

No interest in these?

You're quite right; however, sometimes things aren't as they should be. Should I be at Hampden? Yes. Absolutely. Guilty as charged.

I'll be there. Arriving Wednesday.

Slovenian groundhopping site including photos and maps... NK Zagorje http://en.stadioni.org/zagorje-ob-savi/mestni-stadion/ NK Ilirija Ljubljana 1911 http://en.stadioni.org/ljubljana/sportni-park-ilirija/